Immunocytochemical localization of serotonin1A receptors in the rat central nervous system

Activation of 5-HT5A receptor in the ventrolateral orbital cortex produces antinociceptive effects in rat models of neuropathic and inflammatory pain

The ventrolateral orbital cortex (VLO) is identified as an integral component of the endogenous analgesic system comprising a spinal cord - thalamic nucleus submedius - VLO - periaqueductal gray (PAG) - spinal cord loop. The present study investigates the effects of 5-HT5A receptor activation in the VLO on allodynia induced by spared nerve injury and formalin-evoked flinching behavior and spinal c-Fos expression in male SD rats, and further examines whether GABAergic modulation is involved in the effects evoked by VLO 5-HT5A receptor activation. We found an upregulation of 5-HT5A receptor expression in the VLO during neuropathic and inflammatory pain states. Microinjection of the non-selective 5-HT5A receptor agonist 5-CT into the VLO dose dependently alleviated allodynia, and flinching behavior and spinal c-Fos expression, which were blocked by the selective 5-HT5A receptor antagonist SB-699551. Moreover, application of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline in the VLO augmented the analgesic effects induced by 5-CT in neuropathic and inflammatory pain states, whereas the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol attenuated these analgesic effects. Additionally, the 5-HT5A receptors were found to be colocalized with GABAergic neurons in the VLO. These results provide new evidence for the involvement of central 5-HT5A receptors in the VLO in modulation of neuropathic and inflammatory pain and support the hypothesis that activation of 5-HT5A receptors may inhibit the inhibitory effect of GABAergic interneurons on output neurons projecting to the PAG (GABAergic disinhibitory mechanisms), consequently activating the brainstem descending inhibitory system that depresses nociceptive transmission at the spinal cord level.

5-HT1A and 5-HT2B receptor interaction and co-clustering regulate serotonergic neuron excitability

Many psychiatric diseases have been associated with serotonin (5-HT) neuron dysfunction. The firing of 5-HT neurons is known to be under 5-HT1A receptor-mediated autoinhibition, but functional consequences of coexpressed receptors are unknown. Using co-immunoprecipitation, BRET, confocal, and super-resolution microscopy in hippocampal and 5-HT neurons, we present evidence that 5-HT1A and 5-HT2B receptors can form heterodimers and co-cluster at the plasma membrane of dendrites. Selective agonist stimulation of coexpressed 5-HT1A and 5-HT2B receptors prevents 5-HT1A receptor internalization and increases 5-HT2B receptor membrane clustering. Current clamp recordings of 5-HT neurons revealed that 5-HT1A receptor stimulation of acute slices from mice lacking 5-HT2B receptors in 5-HT neurons increased their firing activity trough Ca2+-activated potassium channel inhibition compared to 5-HT neurons from control mice. This work supports the hypothesis that the relative expression of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2B receptors tunes the neuronal excitability of serotonergic neurons through potassium channel regulation.

The Serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) Receptor as a Pharmacological Target in Depression

Clinical depression is a common, debilitating and heterogenous disorder. Existing treatments for depression are inadequate for a significant minority of patients and new approaches are urgently needed. A wealth of evidence implicates the serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptor in the pathophysiology of depression. Stimulation of the 5-HT1A receptor is an existing therapeutic target for treating depression and anxiety, using drugs such as buspirone and tandospirone. However, activation of 5-HT1A raphe autoreceptors has also been suggested to be responsible for the delay in the therapeutic action of conventional antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This narrative review provides a brief overview of the 5-HT1A receptor, the evidence implicating it in depression and in the effects of conventional antidepressant treatment. We highlight that pre- and post-synaptic 5-HT1A receptors may have divergent roles in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression. To date, developing this understanding to progress therapeutic discovery has been limited, partly due to a paucity of specific pharmacological probes suitable for use in humans. The development of 5-HT1A 'biased agonism', using compounds such as NLX-101, offers the opportunity to further elucidate the roles of pre- and post-synaptic 5-HT1A receptors. We describe how experimental medicine approaches can be helpful in profiling the effects of 5-HT1A receptor modulation on the different clinical domains of depression, and outline some potential neurocognitive models that could be used to test the effects of 5-HT1A biased agonists.

Excitatory and inhibitory effects of HCN channel modulation on excitability of layer V pyramidal cells

Dendrites of cortical pyramidal cells are densely populated by hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, a.k.a. Ih channels. Ih channels are targeted by multiple neuromodulatory pathways, and thus are one of the key ion-channel populations regulating the pyramidal cell activity. Previous observations and theories attribute opposing effects of the Ih channels on neuronal excitability due to their mildly hyperpolarized reversal potential. These effects are difficult to measure experimentally due to the fine spatiotemporal landscape of the Ih activity in the dendrites, but computational models provide an efficient tool for studying this question in a reduced but generalizable setting. In this work, we build upon existing biophysically detailed models of thick-tufted layer V pyramidal cells and model the effects of over- and under-expression of Ih channels as well as their neuromodulation. We show that Ih channels facilitate the action potentials of layer V pyramidal cells in response to proximal dendritic stimulus while they hinder the action potentials in response to distal dendritic stimulus at the apical dendrite. We also show that the inhibitory action of the Ih channels in layer V pyramidal cells is due to the interactions between Ih channels and a hot zone of low voltage-activated Ca2+ channels at the apical dendrite. Our simulations suggest that a combination of Ih-enhancing neuromodulation at the proximal part of the apical dendrite and Ih-inhibiting modulation at the distal part of the apical dendrite can increase the layer V pyramidal excitability more than either of the two alone. Our analyses uncover the effects of Ih-channel neuromodulation of layer V pyramidal cells at a single-cell level and shed light on how these neurons integrate information and enable higher-order functions of the brain.

Sex and social status modify the effects of fluoxetine on socioemotional behaviors in Syrian hamsters and rhesus macaques

Social subordination increases risk for psychiatric disorders, while dominance increases resilience to these disorders. Fluoxetine, a selective serotonin (5HT) reuptake inhibitor whose actions are mediated in part by the 5HT1A receptor (5HT1AR), has sex- and social status-specific effects on socioemotional behavior and aggressive behavior. However, the impact of social status on these sex-specific effects remains unclear. The current study evaluated the impact of acute fluoxetine treatment and social status on dominance-related behaviors in female and male hamsters, and the impact of chronic fluoxetine treatment on socioemotional behavior and 5HT1AR binding potential (5HT1AR_BP) in female rhesus macaques. We hypothesized that sex differences in the effects of fluoxetine on aggression in hamsters would be diminished in dominant and enhanced in subordinate males and that aggression in female hamsters would be enhanced in dominants and diminished in subordinates. In female rhesus macaques, we hypothesized that chronic fluoxetine would alter socioemotional behaviors and site-specific 5HT1AR_BP in a status-dependent manner. Male (n = 46) and female (n = 56) hamsters were paired with conspecifics for three days to establish social rank. Hamsters received a single dose of 20 mg/kg fluoxetine or vehicle two-hours prior to a test with a non-aggressive intruder. Female rhesus monkeys (n = 14) housed were administered fluoxetine (2.8 mg/kg/day) or vehicle injections chronically for 14-days, separated by a three-week washout period. On Day 15, positron emission tomography neuroimaging for 5HT1AR_BP was conducted. Fluoxetine treatment decreased aggression in subordinate female monkeys and subordinate female hamsters but not in dominant females of either species. Fluoxetine decreased aggression in dominant but not in subordinate male hamsters. Fluoxetine also reduced and increased prefrontal 5HT1AR_BP in dominant and subordinate females, respectively. Taken together, these results provide cross-species evidence that social status and sex impact how increased 5HT modulates agonistic behavior.

Cognition and serotonin in Parkinson's disease

Cognitive impairment affects up to 80% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and is associated with poor quality of life. PD cognitive dysfunction includes poor working memory, impairments in executive function and difficulty in set-shifting. The pathophysiology underlying cognitive impairment in PD is still poorly understood, but there is evidence to support involvements of the cholinergic, dopaminergic, and noradrenergic systems. Only rivastigmine, an acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor, is efficacious for the treatment of PD dementia, which limits management of cognitive impairment in PD. Whereas the role of the serotonergic system in PD cognition is less understood, through its interactions with other neurotransmitters systems, namely, the cholinergic system, it may be implicated in cognitive processes. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the pharmacological, clinical and pathological evidence that implicates the serotonergic system in mediating cognition in PD.

Aripiprazole Offsets Mutant ATXN3-Induced Motor Dysfunction by Targeting Dopamine D2 and Serotonin 1A and 2A Receptors in C. elegans

The atypical antipsychotic aripiprazole is a Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for the treatment of psychotic, mood, and other psychiatric disorders. Previous drug discovery efforts pinpointed aripiprazole as an effective suppressor of Machado–Joseph disease (MJD) pathogenesis, as its administration resulted in a reduced abundance and aggregation of mutant Ataxin-3 (ATXN3) proteins. Dopamine partial agonism and functional selectivity have been proposed as the main pharmacological mechanism of action of aripiprazole in the treatment of psychosis; however, this mechanism remains to be determined in the context of MJD. Here, we focus on confirming the efficacy of aripiprazole to reduce motor dysfunction in vivo, using a Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model of MJD, and on unveiling the drug targets required for its positive action against mutant ATXN3 pathogenesis. We employed pharmacogenetics and pharmacological approaches to identify which dopamine and serotonin receptors are critical for aripiprazole-mediated improvements in motor function. We demonstrated that dopamine D₂-like and serotonin 5-HT_1A and 5-HT_2A receptors play important roles in this process. Our findings strengthen the relevance of dopaminergic and serotoninergic signaling modulation against mutant ATXN3-mediated pathogenesis. The identification of aripiprazole’s cellular targets, relevant for MJD and perhaps other neurodegenerative diseases, may pave the way for prospective drug discovery and development campaigns aiming to improve the features of this prototypical compound and reduce side effects not negligible in the case of aripiprazole.

Role of Descending Serotonergic Fibers in the Development of Pathophysiology after Spinal Cord Injury (SCI): Contribution to Chronic Pain, Spasticity, and Autonomic Dysreflexia

As the nervous system develops, nerve fibers from the brain form descending tracts that regulate the execution of motor behavior within the spinal cord, incoming sensory signals, and capacity to change (plasticity). How these fibers affect function depends upon the transmitter released, the receptor system engaged, and the pattern of neural innervation. The current review focuses upon the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) and its capacity to dampen (inhibit) neural excitation. A brief review of key anatomical details, receptor types, and pharmacology is provided. The paper then considers how damage to descending serotonergic fibers contributes to pathophysiology after spinal cord injury (SCI). The loss of serotonergic fibers removes an inhibitory brake that enables plasticity and neural excitation. In this state, noxious stimulation can induce a form of over-excitation that sensitizes pain (nociceptive) circuits, a modification that can contribute to the development of chronic pain. Over time, the loss of serotonergic fibers allows prolonged motor drive (spasticity) to develop and removes a regulatory brake on autonomic function, which enables bouts of unregulated sympathetic activity (autonomic dysreflexia). Recent research has shown that the loss of descending serotonergic activity is accompanied by a shift in how the neurotransmitter GABA affects neural activity, reducing its inhibitory effect. Treatments that target the loss of inhibition could have therapeutic benefit.

Serotonin 1A Receptor Binding of [11C]CUMI-101 in Bipolar Depression Quantified Using Positron Emission Tomography: Relationship to Psychopathology and Antidepressant Response

BACKGROUND

The pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD) remains largely unknown despite it causing significant disability and suicide risk. Serotonin signaling may play a role in the pathophysiology, but direct evidence for this is lacking. Treatment of the depressed phase of the disorder is limited. Previous studies have indicated that positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the serotonin 1A receptor (5HT1AR) may predict antidepressant response.

METHODS

A total of 20 participants with BD in a current major depressive episode and 16 healthy volunteers had PET imaging with [11C]CUMI-101, employing a metabolite-corrected input function for quantification of binding potential to the 5HT1AR. Bipolar participants then received an open-labeled, 6-week clinical trial with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in addition to their mood stabilizer. Clinical ratings were obtained at baseline and during SSRI treatment.

RESULTS

Pretreatment binding potential (BPF) of [11C]CUMI-101 was associated with a number of pretreatment clinical variables within BD participants. Within the raphe nucleus, it was inversely associated with the baseline Montgomery Åsberg Rating Scale (P = .026), the Beck Depression Inventory score (P = .0023), and the Buss Durkee Hostility Index (P = .0058), a measure of lifetime aggression. A secondary analysis found [11C]CUMI-101 BPF was higher in bipolar participants compared with healthy volunteers (P = .00275). [11C]CUMI-101 BPF did not differ between SSRI responders and non-responders (P = .907) to treatment and did not predict antidepressant response (P = .580). Voxel-wise analyses confirmed the results obtained in regions of interest analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

A disturbance of serotonin system function is associated with both the diagnosis of BD and its severity of depression. Pretreatment 5HT1AR binding did not predict SSRI antidepressant outcome.The study was listed on clinicaltrials.gov with identifier NCT02473250.

5-HT Receptors and Temperature Homeostasis

The present review summarizes the data concerning the influence of serotonin (5-HT) receptors on body temperature in warm-blooded animals and on processes associated with its maintenance. This review includes the most important part of investigations from the first studies to the latest ones. The established results on the pharmacological activation of 5-HT1A, 5-HT3, 5-HT7 and 5-HT2 receptor types are discussed. Such activation of the first 3 type of receptors causes a decrease in body temperature, whereas the 5-HT2 activation causes its increase. Physiological mechanisms leading to changes in body temperature as a result of 5-HT receptors' activation are discussed. In case of 5-HT1A receptor, they include an inhibition of shivering and non-shivering thermogenesis, as well simultaneous increase of peripheral blood flow, i.e., the processes of heat production and heat loss. The physiological processes mediated by 5-HT2 receptor are opposite to those of the 5-HT1A receptor. Mechanisms of 5-HT3 and 5-HT7 receptor participation in these processes are yet to be studied in more detail. Some facts indicating that in natural conditions, without pharmacological impact, these 5-HT receptors are important links in the system of temperature homeostasis, are also discussed.

Biased agonism in drug discovery: Is there a future for biased 5-HT1A receptor agonists in the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases?

Serotonin (5-HT) is one of the fundamental neurotransmitters that contribute to the information essential for an organism's normal, physiological function. Serotonin acts centrally and systemically. The 5-HT_1A receptor is the most widespread serotonin receptor, and participates in many brain-related disorders, including anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairments. The 5-HT_1A receptor can activate several different biochemical pathways and signals through both G protein-dependent and G protein-independent pathways. Preclinical experiments indicate that distinct signaling pathways in specific brain regions may be crucial for antidepressant-like, anxiolytic-like, and procognitive responses. Therefore, the development of new ligands that selectively target a particular signaling pathway(s) could open new possibilities for more effective and safer pharmacotherapy. This review discusses the current state of preclinical studies focusing on the concept of functional selectivity (biased agonism) regarding the 5-HT_1A receptor and its role in antidepressant-like, anxiolytic-like, and procognitive regulation. Such work highlights not only the differential effects of targeted autoreceptors, vs. heteroreceptors, but also the importance of targeting specific downstream intracellular signaling processes, thereby enhancing favorable over unfavorable signaling activation.

Serotonin modulation of hippocampal functions: From anatomy to neurotherapeutics

The hippocampal region receives a dense serotoninergic innervation originating from both medial and dorsal raphe nuclei. This innervation regulates hippocampal activity through the activation of distinct receptor families that are expressed in excitatory and inhibitory neurons, terminals of several afferent neurotransmitter systems, and glial cells. Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that hippocampal dysfunctions are involved in learning and memory deficits, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and mood disorders such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic syndrome disorder, whereas the hippocampus participates also in the therapeutic mechanisms of numerous medicines. Not surprisingly, several drugs acting via 5-HT mechanisms are efficacious to some extent in some diseases and the link between 5-HT and the hippocampus although clear remains difficult to untangle. For this reason, we review reported data concerning the distribution and the functional roles of the 5-HT receptors in the hippocampal region in health and disease. The impact of the 5-HT systems on the hippocampal function is such that the research of new 5-HT mechanisms and drugs is still very active. It concerns notably drugs acting at the 5-HT_1A,_2A,_2C,_4,6 receptor subtypes, in addition to the already existing drugs including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Identification of the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor as a novel therapeutic target in a C. elegans model of Machado-Joseph disease

Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) or Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement coordination leading to a premature death. Despite several efforts, no disease-modifying treatment is yet available for this disease. Previous studies pinpointed the modulation of serotonergic signaling, through pharmacological inhibition of the serotonin transporter SERT, as a promising therapeutic approach for MJD/SCA3. Here, we describe the 5-HT_1A receptor as a novel therapeutic target in MJD, using a C. elegans model of ATXN3 proteotoxicity. Chronic and acute administration of befiradol (also known as NLX-112), a highly specific 5-HT_1A agonist, rescued motor function and suppressed mutant ATXN3 aggregation. This action required the 5-HT_1A receptor orthologue in the nematode, SER-4. Tandospirone, a clinically tested 5-HT_1A receptor partial agonist, showed a limited impact on animals' motor dysfunction on acute administration and a broader receptor activation profile upon chronic treatment, its effect depending on 5-HT_1A but also on the 5-HT₆/SER-5 and 5-HT₇/SER-7 receptors. Our results support high potency and specificity of befiradol for activation of 5-HT_1A/SER-4 receptors and highlight the contribution of the auto- and hetero-receptor function to the therapeutic outcome in this MJD model. Our study deepens the understanding of serotonergic signaling modulation in the suppression of ATXN3 proteotoxicity and suggests that a potent and selective 5-HT_1A receptor agonist such as befiradol could constitute a promising therapeutic agent for MJD.

THC and CBD produce divergent effects on perception and panic behaviours via distinct cortical molecular pathways

Clinical and pre-clinical evidence demonstrates divergent psychotropic effects of THC vs. CBD. While THC can induce perceptual distortions and anxiogenic effects, CBD displays antipsychotic and anxiolytic properties. A key brain region responsible for regulation of cognition and affect, the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC), is strongly modulated by cannabinoids, suggesting that these dissociable THC/CBD-dependent effects may involve functional and molecular interplay within the PFC. The primary aim of this study was to investigate potential interactions and molecular substrates involved in PFC-mediated effects of THC and CBD on differential cognitive and affective behavioural processing. Male Sprague Dawley rats received intra-PFC microinfusions of THC, CBD or their combination, and tested in the latent inhibition paradigm, spontaneous oddity discrimination test, elevated T-maze and open field. To identify local, drug-induced molecular modulation in the PFC, PFC samples were collected and processed with Western Blotting. Intra-PFC THC induced strong panic-like responses that were counteracted with CBD. In contrast, CBD did not affect panic-like behaviours but blocked formation of associative fear memories and impaired latent inhibition and oddity discrimination performance. Interestingly, these CBD effects were dependent upon 5-HT_1A receptor transmission but not influenced by THC co-administration. Moreover, THC induced robust phosphorylation of ERK1/2 that was prevented by CBD, while CBD decreased phosphorylation of p70S6K, independently of THC. These results suggest that intra-PFC infusion of THC promotes panic-like behaviour associated with increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation. In contrast, CBD impairs perceptive functions and latent inhibition via activation of 5-HT_1A receptors and reduced phosphorylation of p70S6K.

5-HT1A receptor-mediated attenuation of synaptic transmission in rat medial vestibular nucleus impacts on vestibular-related motor function

KEY POINTS

Chemogenetic activation of medial vestibular nucleus-projecting 5-HT neurons resulted in deficits in vestibular-mediated tasks, including negative geotaxis, balance beam and rota-rod tests. The 5-HT_1A receptor mediates the vestibular-related behavioural effects of 5-HT in the vestibular nucleus. 5-HT_1A receptor activation attenuated evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents and evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents via a presynaptic mechanism in the vestibular nucleus.

ABSTRACT

While the anxiolytic effects of serotonergic neuromodulation are well studied, its role in sensorimotor coordination and postural control is unclear. In this study, we show that an increase of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) at the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN), a brainstem centre for vestibulospinal coordination, by either direct cannula administration or chemogenetic stimulation of MVN-projecting serotonergic neurons, adversely affected performance of rats in vestibular-mediated tasks, including negative geotaxis, balance beam and rota-rod tests. Application of the 5-HT₁ and 5-HT₇ receptor co-agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin recapitulated the effect of 5-HT, while co-administration of the specific 5-HT_1A receptor antagonist WAY 100135 effectively abolished all 5-HT-induced behavioural deficits. This indicated that 5-HT_1A receptors mediated the effects of 5-HT in the rat MVN. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recording, we demonstrated that 5-HT_1A receptor activation attenuated both evoked excitatory and evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents through a presynaptic mechanism in the rat MVN. The results thus highlight the 5-HT_1A receptor as the gain controller of vestibular-related brainstem circuits for posture and balance.

Central 5-HT receptors and their function; present and future

Since our review of central 5-HT receptors and their function twenty years ago, no new 5-HT receptor has been discovered and there is little evidence that this situation will change in the near future. Nevertheless, over this time significant progress has been made in our understanding of the properties of these receptors and in the clinical translation of this information, and some of these developments are highlighted herein. Such highlights include extensive mapping of 5-HT receptors in both animal and human brain, culminating in readily-accessible brain atlases of 5-HT receptor distribution, as well as emerging data on how 5-HT receptors are distributed within complex neural circuits. Also, a range of important pharmacological and genetic tools have been developed that allow selective 5-HT receptor manipulation, in cells through to whole organism models. Moreover, unexpected complexity in 5-HT receptor function has been identified including agonist-dependent signalling that goes beyond the pharmacology of canonical 5-HT receptor signalling pathways set down in the 1980s and 1990s. This new knowledge of 5-HT signalling has been extended by the discovery of combined signalling of 5-HT and co-released neurotransmitters, especially glutamate. Another important advance has been the progression of a large number of 5-HT ligands through to experimental medicine studies and clinical trials, and some such agents have already become prescribed therapeutic drugs. Much more needs to be discovered and understood by 5-HT neuropharmacologists, not least how the diverse signalling effects of so many 5-HT receptor types interact with complex neural circuits to generate neurophysiological changes which ultimately lead to altered cognitions and behaviour. This article is part of the special issue entitled 'Serotonin Research: Crossing Scales and Boundaries'.

Neurological Impairments in Mice Subjected to Irradiation and Chemotherapy

Radiotherapy, surgery and the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide (TMZ) are frontline treatments for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). However beneficial, GBM treatments nevertheless cause anxiety or depression in nearly 50% of patients. To further understand the basis of these neurological complications, we investigated the effects of combined radiotherapy and TMZ chemotherapy (combined treatment) on neurological impairments using a mouse model. Five weeks after combined treatment, mice displayed anxiety-like behaviors, and at 15 weeks both anxiety- and depression-like behaviors were observed. Relevant to the known roles of the serotonin axis in mood disorders, we found that 5HT1A serotonin receptor levels were decreased by ∼50% in the hippocampus at both early and late time points, and a 37% decrease in serotonin levels was observed at 15 weeks postirradiation. Furthermore, chronic treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine was sufficient for reversing combined treatment-induced depression-like behaviors. Combined treatment also elicited a transient early increase in activated microglia in the hippocampus, suggesting therapy-induced neuroinflammation that subsided by 15 weeks. Together, the results of this study suggest that interventions targeting the serotonin axis may help ameliorate certain neurological side effects associated with the clinical management of GBM to improve the overall quality of life for cancer patients.

Somato-Dendritic Regulation of Raphe Serotonin Neurons; A Key to Antidepressant Action

Several lines of evidence implicate serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)in regulating personality traits and mood control. Serotonergic neurons are classically thought to be tonic regular-firing, “clock-like” neurons. Neurotransmission by serotonin is tightly regulated by the serotonin transporter (SERT) and by autoreceptors (serotonin receptors expressed by serotonin neurons) through negative feedback inhibition at the cell bodies and dendrites (5-HT_1A receptors) of the dorsal raphe nuclei or at the axon terminals (5-HT_1B receptors). In dorsal raphe neurons, the release of serotonin from vesicles in the soma, dendrites, and/or axonal varicosities is independent of classical synapses and can be induced by neuron depolarization, by the stimulation of L-type calcium channels, by activation of glutamatergic receptors, and/or by activation of 5-HT₂ receptors. The resulting serotonin release displays a slow kinetic and a large diffusion. This process called volume transmission may ultimately affect the rate of discharge of serotonergic neurons, and their tonic activity. The therapeutic effects induced by serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants are initially triggered by blocking SERT but rely on consequences of chronic exposure, i.e., a selective desensitization of somatodendritic 5-HT_1A autoreceptors. Agonist stimulation of 5-HT_2B receptors mimicked behavioral and neurogenic SSRI actions, and increased extracellular serotonin in dorsal raphe. By contrast, a lack of effects of SSRIs was observed in the absence of 5-HT_2B receptors (knockout-KO), even restricted to serotonergic neurons (Htr2b^5-HTKO mice). The absence of 5-HT_2B receptors in serotonergic neurons is associated with a higher 5-HT_1A-autoreceptor reactivity and thus a lower firing activity of these neurons. In agreement, mice with overexpression of 5-HT_1A autoreceptor show decreased neuronal activity and increased depression-like behavior that is resistant to SSRI treatment. We propose thus that the serotonergic tone results from the opposite control exerted by somatodendritic (Gi-coupled) 5-HT_1A and (Gq-coupled) 5-HT_2B receptors on dorsal raphe neurons. Therefore, 5-HT_2B receptors may contribute to SSRI therapeutic effects by their positive regulation of adult raphe serotonergic neurons. Deciphering the molecular mechanism controlling extrasynaptic release of serotonin, and how autoreceptors interact in regulating the tonic activity of serotonergic neurons, is critical to fully understand the therapeutic effect of SSRIs.

Reciprocal interaction between monoaminergic systems and the pedunculopontine nucleus: Implication in the mechanism of L-DOPA

The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) is part of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) and has been involved in the control of gait, posture, locomotion, sleep, and arousal. It likely participates in some motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease and is regularly proposed as a surgical target to ameliorate gait, posture and sleep disorders in Parkinsonian patients. The PPN overlaps with the monoaminergic systems including dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline in the modulation of the above-mentioned functions. All these systems are involved in Parkinson's disease and the mechanism of the anti-Parkinsonian agents, mostly L-DOPA. This suggests that PPN interacts with monoaminergic neurons and vice versa. Some evidence indicates that the PPN sends cholinergic, glutamatergic and even gabaergic inputs to mesencephalic dopaminergic cells, with the data regarding serotonergic or noradrenergic cells being less well known. Similarly, the control exerted by the PPN on dopaminergic neurons, is multiple and complex, and more extensively explored than the other monoaminergic systems. The data on the influence of monoaminergic systems on PPN neuron activity are rather scarce. While there is evidence that the PPN influences the therapeutic response of L-DOPA, it is still difficult to discerne the reciprocal action of the PPN and monoaminergic systems in this action. Additional data are required to better understand the functional organization of monoaminergic inputs to the MLR including the PPN to get a clearer picture of their interaction.

The GABAergic Gudden's dorsal tegmental nucleus: A new relay for serotonergic regulation of sleep-wake behavior in the mouse

Serotonin (5-HT) neurons are involved in wake promotion and exert a strong inhibitory influence on rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Such effects have been ascribed, at least in part to the action of 5-HT at post-synaptic 5-HT_1A receptors (5-HT_1AR) in the brainstem, a major wake/REM sleep regulatory center. However, the neuroanatomical substrate through which 5-HT_1AR influence sleep remains elusive. We therefore investigated whether a brainstem structure containing a high density of 5-HT_1AR mRNA, the GABAergic Gudden's dorsal tegmental nucleus (DTg), may contribute to 5-HT-mediated regulatory mechanisms of sleep-wake stages. We first found that bilateral lesions of the DTg promote wake at the expense of sleep. In addition, using local microinjections into the DTg in freely moving mice, we showed that local activation of 5-HT_1AR by the prototypical agonist 8-OH-DPAT enhances wake and reduces deeply REM sleep duration. The specific involvement of 5-HT_1AR in the latter effects was further demonstrated by ex vivo extracellular recordings showing that the selective 5-HT_1AR antagonist WAY 100635 prevented DTg neuron inhibition by 8-OH-DPAT. We next found that GABAergic neurons of the ventral DTg exclusively targets glutamatergic neurons of the lateral mammillary nucleus (LM) in the posterior hypothalamus by means of anterograde and retrograde tracing techniques using cre driver mouse lines and a modified rabies virus. Altogether, our findings strongly support the idea that 5-HT-driven enhancement of wake results from 5-HT_1AR-mediated inhibition of DTg GABAergic neurons that would in turn disinhibit glutamatergic neurons in the mammillary bodies. We therefore propose a Raphe→DTg→LM pathway as a novel regulatory circuit underlying 5-HT modulation of arousal.

A behavioral mechanistic investigation of the role of 5-HT1A receptors in the mediation of rat maternal behavior

Previous work suggests that 5-HT_1A receptors play a special role in rodent maternal aggression, but not in other aspects of maternal care (e.g. pup retrieval and nest building). The present study re-assessed the basic effects of 5-HT_1A activation or blockade on various maternal responses in postpartum female rats. We also examined the possible behavioral mechanisms underlying the maternal effects of 5-HT_1A. Sprague-Dawley mother rats were injected with a 5-HT_1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT (0.1, 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg, sc), a 5-HT_1A antagonist WAY-101405 (0.1, 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg, sc) or 0.9% saline solution on postpartum days 3, 5, and 7. Maternal behavior was tested 30 min before, 30 min, 120 min, and 240 min after the injection. Acute and repeated 8-OH-DPAT treatment significantly disrupted pup retrieval, pup licking, nursing, and nest building in a dose-dependent fashion, whereas WAY-101405 had no effect at the tested doses. The 5-HT_1A receptor specificity of 8-OH-DPAT's action was confirmed as its maternal disruption effect was reversed by pretreatment of WAY-100635 (a highly selective 5-HT_1A receptor antagonist). Subsequent pup preference test found that 8-OH-DPAT did not decrease the pup preference over a novel object, thus no inhibition on maternal motivation or maternal affect. The pup separation test and pup retrieval on an elevated plus maze test also failed to find any motivational and motor impairment effect with 8-OH-DPAT. However, 8-OH-DPAT at the maternal disruptive dose did disrupt the prepulse inhibition (a measure of attentional function) of acoustic startle response and enhanced the basal startle response. These findings suggest that stimulation of 5-HT_1A receptors by 8-OH-DPAT impairs maternal care by partially interfering with the attentional processing or basal anxiety. More work is needed to further delineate the psychological and neuronal mechanisms underlying the maternal disruptive effect of 5-HT_1A receptor activation.

Can we increase speed and efficacy of antidepressant treatments? Part I: General aspects and monoamine-based strategies

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe psychiatric syndrome with high prevalence and socioeconomic impact. Current antidepressant treatments are based on the blockade of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and/or noradrenaline transporters. These drugs show slow onset of clinical action and limited efficacy, partly due to the activation of physiological negative feed-back mechanisms operating through autoreceptors (5-HT_1A, 5-HT_1B, α₂-adrenoceptors) and postsynaptic receptors (e.g., 5-HT₃). As a result, clinically-relevant doses of reuptake inhibitors increase extracellular (active) 5-HT concentrations in the midbrain raphe nuclei but not in forebrain, as indicated by rodent microdialysis studies and by PET-scan studies in primate/human brain. The prevention of these self-inhibitory mechanisms by antagonists of the above receptors augments preclinical and clinical antidepressant effects. Hence, the mixed ß-adrenoceptor/5-HT_1A antagonist pindolol accelerated, and in some cases enhanced, the clinical action of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). This strategy has been incorporated into two new multi-target antidepressant drugs, vilazodone and vortioxetine, which combine 5-HT reuptake inhibition and partial agonism at 5-HT_1A receptors. Vortioxetine shows also high affinity for other 5-HT receptors, including excitatory 5-HT₃ receptors located in cortical and hippocampal GABA interneurons. 5-HT₃ receptor blockade by vortioxetine enhances pyramidal neuron activity in prefrontal cortex as well as cortical and hippocampal 5-HT release. It is still too soon to know whether these new antidepressants will represent a real advance over existing drugs in the real world. However, their development opened the way to future antidepressant drugs based on the prevention of local and distal self-inhibitory mechanisms attenuating monoamine activity.

Activation of 5-HT7 receptors reverses NMDA-R-dependent LTD by activating PKA in medial vestibular neurons

The medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) is a major output station for neurons that project to the vestibulo-spinal pathway. MVN neurons show capacity for long-term depression (LTD) during the juvenile period. We investigated LTD of MVN neurons using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. High frequency stimulation (HFS) robustly induced LTD in 90% of type B neurons in the MVN, while only 10% of type A neurons were responsive, indicating that type B neurons are the major contributors to LTD in the MVN. The neuromodulator serotonin (5-HT) is known to modulate LTD in neural circuits of the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus. We therefore aim to determine the action of 5-HT on the LTD of type B MVN neurons and elucidate the relevant 5-HT receptor subtypes responsible for its action. Using specific agonists and antagonists of 5-HT receptors, we found that selective activation of 5-HT₇ receptor in type B neurons in the MVN of juvenile (P13-16) rats completely abolished NMDA-receptor-mediated LTD in a protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent manner. Our finding that 5-HT restricts plasticity of type B MVN neurons via 5-HT₇ receptors offers a mechanism whereby vestibular tuning contributes to the maturation of the vestibulo-spinal circuit and highlights the role of 5-HT in postural control.

Neural Control of the Upper Airway: Respiratory and State-Dependent Mechanisms

Upper airway muscles subserve many essential for survival orofacial behaviors, including their important role as accessory respiratory muscles. In the face of certain predisposition of craniofacial anatomy, both tonic and phasic inspiratory activation of upper airway muscles is necessary to protect the upper airway against collapse. This protective action is adequate during wakefulness, but fails during sleep which results in recurrent episodes of hypopneas and apneas, a condition known as the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA). Although OSA is almost exclusively a human disorder, animal models help unveil the basic principles governing the impact of sleep on breathing and upper airway muscle activity. This article discusses the neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, and neurophysiology of the different neuronal systems whose activity changes with sleep-wake states, such as the noradrenergic, serotonergic, cholinergic, orexinergic, histaminergic, GABAergic and glycinergic, and their impact on central respiratory neurons and upper airway motoneurons. Observations of the interactions between sleep-wake states and upper airway muscles in healthy humans and OSA patients are related to findings from animal models with normal upper airway, and various animal models of OSA, including the chronic-intermittent hypoxia model. Using a framework of upper airway motoneurons being under concurrent influence of central respiratory, reflex and state-dependent inputs, different neurotransmitters, and neuropeptides are considered as either causing a sleep-dependent withdrawal of excitation from motoneurons or mediating an active, sleep-related inhibition of motoneurons. Information about the neurochemistry of state-dependent control of upper airway muscles accumulated to date reveals fundamental principles and may help understand and treat OSA. © 2016 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 6:1801-1850, 2016.

Naratriptan Has a Selective Inhibitory Effect on Trigeminovascular Neurones at Central 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B/1D Receptors in the Cat: Implications for Migraine Therapy

The triptans are agonists at serotonin(5-HT) 1B/1D receptors; however, they are also active at 5-HT1A and 5-HT1F receptors. We conducted this series of experiments to further elucidate the site of action of naratriptan using a well-established animal model of trigeminovascular stimulation. Following electrical stimulation of the superior sagittal sinus of the cat, single cell responses ( n = 83) were recorded in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis. Most cells (91%) also responded to electrical and mechanical stimulation of cutaneous or mucosal facial receptive fields. The micro-iontophoretic application of naratriptan resulted in a significant suppression of the response to sagittal sinus stimulation (response suppressed by 47 ± 4%, P < 0.001). The effect of naratriptan was significantly attenuated by application of either the 5-HT1B/1D receptor antagonist GR-127935 ( P < 0.001) or the 5-HT1A antagonist WAY-100635 ( P < 0.05). The response of single cells to receptive field stimulation was also suppressed by microiontophoretic application of naratriptan, but by only 20 ± 3%. Intravenous administration of naratriptan resulted in a similar selective suppression of sagittal sinus vs. receptive field responses in trigeminal neurones. These results indicate that naratriptan has a central effect in the trigeminovascular system, selectively inhibiting afferent activity in craniovascular neurones, via both 5-HT1B/1D and 5-HT1A receptors.

Selective serotonin 5-HT1A receptor biased agonists elicitdistinct brain activation patterns: a pharmacoMRI study

Serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptors are involved in several physiological and pathological processes and constitute therefore an important therapeutic target. The recent pharmacological concept of biased agonism asserts that highly selective agonists can preferentially direct receptor signaling to specific intracellular responses, opening the possibility of drugs targeting a receptor subtype in specific brain regions. The present study brings additional support to this concept thanks to functional magnetic resonance imaging (7 Tesla-fMRI) in anaesthetized rats. Three 5-HT1A receptor agonists (8-OH-DPAT, F13714 and F15599) and one 5-HT1A receptor antagonist (MPPF) were compared in terms of influence on the brain blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal. Our study revealed for the first time contrasting BOLD signal patterns of biased agonists in comparison to a classical agonist and a silent antagonist. By providing functional information on the influence of pharmacological activation of 5-HT1A receptors in specific brain regions, this neuroimaging approach, translatable to the clinic, promises to be useful in exploring the new concept of biased agonism in neuropsychopharmacology.

Agonist and antagonist bind differently to 5-HT1A receptors during Alzheimer's disease: A post-mortem study with PET radiopharmaceuticals

PET imaging studies using 5-HT1A receptor radiotracers show a decreased density of this receptor in hippocampi of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) at advanced stages. However, current 5-HT1A receptor radiopharmaceuticals used in neuroimaging are antagonists, thought to bind to 5-HT1A receptors in different functional states (i.e., both the one which displays high affinity for agonists and is thought to mediate receptor activation, as well as the state which has low affinity for agonists). Comparing the PET imaging obtained using an agonist radiotracer, which binds selectively to functional receptors, with the PET imaging obtained using an antagonist radiotracer would therefore provide original information on 5-HT1A receptor impairment during AD. Quantitative autoradiography using [(18)F]F13640 and [(18)F]MPPF, a 5-HT1A agonist and antagonist, respectively, was measured in hippocampi of patients with AD (n = 25, at different Braak stages) and control subjects (n = 9). The neuronal density was measured in the same tissues by NeuN immunohistochemistry. The specific binding of both radiotracers was determined by addition of WAY-100635, a selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist. The autoradiography distribution of both 5-HT1A PET radiotracers varied across hippocampus regions. The highest binding density was in the pyramidal layer of CA1. Incubation with Gpp(NH)p, a non-hydrolysable analogue of GTP, reduced significantly [(18)F]F13640 binding in hippocampal regions, confirming its preferential interaction with G-coupled receptors, and slightly increased [(18)F]MPPF binding. In the CA1 subfield, [(18)F]F13640 binding was significantly decreased at Braak stages I/II (-19%), Braak stages III/IV (-23%), and Braak stages V/VI (-36%) versus control. In contrast, [(18)F]MPPF binding was statistically reduced only at the most advanced Braak stages V/VI compared to control (-33%). Since [(18)F]F13640 and [(18)F]MPPF can be used in vivo in humans, this neuropharmacological paradigm supports testing the concept of functional imaging using agonist radiopharmaceuticals in future clinical studies.

Serotonin modulates the excitatory synaptic transmission in the dentate granule cells

Serotonergic fibers from the raphe nuclei project to the hippocampal formation, the activity of which is known to modulate the inhibitory interneurons in the dentate gyrus. On the other hand, serotonergic modulation of the excitatory synapses in the dentate gyrus is not well examined. In the present study, we examined the effects of 5-HT on the excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in the dentate granule cells evoked by the selective stimulation of the lateral perforant path (LPP), the medial perforant path (MPP), or the mossy cell fibers (MCF). 5-HT depressed the amplitude of unitary EPSPs (uEPSPs) evoked by the stimulation of LPP or MPP, whereas uEPSPs evoked by MCF stimulation were little affected. The effect was partly explained by the decrease of the resting membrane resistance following the activation of 5-HT1A receptors, which was confirmed by computer simulations. We also found that the probability of evoking uEPSP by LPP stimulation but not MPP or MCF stimulation was reduced by 5-HT and that the paired-pulse ratio of LPP-evoked EPSP but not that of MPP- or MCF-evoked ones was increased by 5-HT. These effects were blocked by 5-HT2 antagonist, suggesting that the transmitter release in the LPP-granule cell synapse is inhibited by the activation of 5-HT2 receptors. The present results suggest that 5-HT can modulate the EPSPs in the dentate granule cells by at least two distinct mechanisms.

The NMDA Receptor and Schizophrenia: From Pathophysiology to Treatment

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that affects almost 1% of the population worldwide. Even though the etiology of schizophrenia is uncertain, it is believed to be a neurodevelopmental disorder that results from a combination of environmental insults and genetic vulnerabilities. Over the past 20 years, there has been a confluence of evidence from many research disciplines pointing to alterations in excitatory signaling, particularly involving hypofunction of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), as a key contributor to the schizophrenia disease process. This review describes the structure-function relationship of the NMDAR channel and how the glycine modulatory site acts as an important regulator of its activity. In addition, this review highlights the genetic, pharmacologic, and biochemical evidence supporting the hypothesis that NMDAR hypofunction contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Finally, this chapter highlights some of the most recent and promising pharmacological strategies that are designed to either, directly or indirectly, augment NMDAR function in an effort to treat the cognitive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia that are not helped by currently available medications.

Opposing roles for serotonin in cholinergic neurons of the ventral and dorsal striatum

Little is known about the molecular similarities and differences between neurons in the ventral (vSt) and dorsal striatum (dSt) and their physiological implications. In the vSt, serotonin [5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] modulates mood control and pleasure response, whereas in the dSt, 5-HT regulates motor behavior. Here we show that, in mice, 5-HT depolarizes cholinergic interneurons (ChIs) of the dSt whereas hyperpolarizing ChIs from the vSt by acting on different 5-HT receptor isoforms. In the vSt, 5-HT1A (a postsynaptic receptor) and 5-HT1B (a presynaptic receptor) are highly expressed, and synergistically inhibit the excitability of ChIs. The inhibitory modulation by 5-HT1B, but not that by 5-HT1A, is mediated by p11, a protein associated with major depressive disorder. Specific deletion of 5-HT1B from cholinergic neurons results in impaired inhibition of ACh release in the vSt and in anhedonic-like behavior.

Circadian rhythms of clock gene expression in the cerebellum of serotonin-deficient Pet-1 knockout mice

Serotonin plays an important role in the central regulation of circadian clock function. Serotonin levels are generally higher in the brain during periods of high activity, and these periods are in turn heavily regulated by the circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. However, the role of serotonin as a regulator of circadian rhythms elsewhere in the brain has not been extensively examined. In this study, we examined circadian rhythms of clock gene expression in the cerebellum in mice lacking the Pet-1 transcription factor, which results in a developed brain that is deficient in serotonin neurons. If serotonin helps to synchronize rhythms in brain regions other than the suprachiasmatic nucleus, we would expect to see differences in clock gene expression in these serotonin deficient mice. We found minor differences in the expression of Per1 and Per2 in the knockout mice as compared to wild type, but these differences were small and of questionable functional importance. We also measured the response of cerebellar clocks to injections of the serotonin agonist 8-OH-DPAT during the early part of the night. No effect on clock genes was observed, though the immediate-early gene Fos showed increased expression in wild type mice but not the knockouts. These results suggest that serotonin is not an important mediator of circadian rhythms in the cerebellum in a way that parallels its regulation of the circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Cartography of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A Receptor Subtypes in Prefrontal Cortex and Its Projections

Since the development of chemical neuroanatomical tools in the 1960s, a tremendous wealth of information has been generated on the anatomical components of the serotonergic system, at the microscopic level in the brain including the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The PFC receives a widespread distribution of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) terminals from the median and dorsal raphe nuclei. 5-HT receptors were first visualized using radioligand autoradiography in the late 1980s and early 1990s and showed, in contrast to 5-HT innervation, a differential distribution of binding sites associated with different 5-HT receptor subtypes. Due to the cloning of the different 5-HT receptor subtype genes in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was possible, using in situ hybridization histochemistry, to localize cells expressing mRNA for these receptors. Double in situ hybridization histochemistry and immunohistochemistry allowed for the chemical characterization of the phenotype of cells expressing 5-HT receptors. Tract tracing technology allowed a detailed cartography of the neuronal connections of PFC and other brain areas. Based on these data, maps have been constructed that reflect our current understanding of the different circuits where 5-HT receptors can modulate the electrophysiological, pharmacological, and behavioral functions of the PFC. We will review current knowledge regarding the cellular localization of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors in mammalian PFC and their possible functions in the neuronal circuits of the PFC. We will discuss data generated in our laboratory as well as in others, focusing on localization in the pyramidal and GABAergic neuronal cell populations in different mammalian species using molecular neuroanatomy and on the connections with other brain regions.

Sigma receptors [σRs]: biology in normal and diseased states

This review compares the biological and physiological function of Sigma receptors [σRs] and their potential therapeutic roles. Sigma receptors are widespread in the central nervous system and across multiple peripheral tissues. σRs consist of sigma receptor one (σ₁R) and sigma receptor two (σ₂R) and are expressed in numerous regions of the brain. The sigma receptor was originally proposed as a subtype of opioid receptors and was suggested to contribute to the delusions and psychoses induced by benzomorphans such as SKF-10047 and pentazocine. Later studies confirmed that σRs are non-opioid receptors (not an µ opioid receptor) and play a more diverse role in intracellular signaling, apoptosis and metabolic regulation. σ₁Rs are intracellular receptors acting as chaperone proteins that modulate Ca²⁺ signaling through the IP₃ receptor. They dynamically translocate inside cells, hence are transmembrane proteins. The σ₁R receptor, at the mitochondrial-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane, is responsible for mitochondrial metabolic regulation and promotes mitochondrial energy depletion and apoptosis. Studies have demonstrated that they play a role as a modulator of ion channels (K⁺ channels; N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors [NMDAR]; inositol 1,3,5 triphosphate receptors) and regulate lipid transport and metabolism, neuritogenesis, cellular differentiation and myelination in the brain. σ₁R modulation of Ca²⁺ release, modulation of cardiac myocyte contractility and may have links to G-proteins. It has been proposed that σ₁Rs are intracellular signal transduction amplifiers. This review of the literature examines the mechanism of action of the σRs, their interaction with neurotransmitters, pharmacology, location and adverse effects mediated through them.

Distribution of serotonin 5-HT1A-binding sites in the brainstem and the hypothalamus, and their roles in 5-HT-induced sleep and ingestive behaviors in rock pigeons (Columba livia)

Serotonin 1A receptors (5-HT1ARs), which are widely distributed in the mammalian brain, participate in cognitive and emotional functions. In birds, 5-HT1ARs are expressed in prosencephalic areas involved in visual and cognitive functions. Diverse evidence supports 5-HT1AR-mediated 5-HT-induced ingestive and sleep behaviors in birds. Here, we describe the distribution of 5-HT1ARs in the hypothalamus and brainstem of birds, analyze their potential roles in sleep and ingestive behaviors, and attempt to determine the involvement of auto-/hetero-5-HT1ARs in these behaviors. In 6 pigeons, the anatomical distribution of [(3)H]8-OH-DPAT binding in the rostral brainstem and hypothalamus was examined. Ingestive/sleep behaviors were recorded (1h) in 16 pigeons pretreated with MM77 (a heterosynaptic 5-HT1AR antagonist; 23 or 69 nmol) for 20 min, followed by intracerebroventricular ICV injection of 5-HT (N:8; 150 nmol), 8-OH-DPAT (DPAT, a 5-HT1A,7R agonist, 30 nmol N:8) or vehicle. 5-HT- and DPAT-induced sleep and ingestive behaviors, brainstem 5-HT neuronal density and brain 5-HT content were examined in 12 pigeons, pretreated by ICV with the 5-HT neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) or vehicle (N:6/group). The distribution of brainstem and diencephalic c-Fos immunoreactivity after ICV injection of 5-HT, DPAT or vehicle (N:5/group) into birds provided with or denied access to water is also described. 5-HT1ARs are concentrated in the brainstem 5-HTergic areas and throughout the periventricular hypothalamus, preoptic nuclei and circumventricular organs. 5-HT and DPAT produced a complex c-Fos expression pattern in the 5-HT1AR-enriched preoptic hypothalamus and the circumventricular organs, which are related to drinking and sleep regulation, but modestly affected c-Fos expression in 5-HTergic neurons. The 5-HT-induced ingestivebehaviors and the 5-HT- and DPAT-induced sleep behaviors were reduced by MM77 pretreatment. 5,7-DHT increased sleep per se, decreased tryptophan hydroxylase expression in the raphe nuclei and decreased prosencephalic 5-HT release but failed to affect 5-HT- or DPAT-induced drinking or sleep behavior. 5-HT- and DPAT-induced ingestive and sleep behaviors in pigeons appear to be mediated by heterosynaptic and/or non-somatodendritic presynaptic 5-HT1ARs localized to periventricular diencephalic circuits.

Serotonin in the ventral hippocampus modulates anxiety-like behavior during amphetamine withdrawal

Withdrawal from amphetamine is associated with increased anxiety and sensitivity to stressors which are thought to contribute to relapse. Rats undergoing amphetamine withdrawal fail to exhibit stress-induced increases in serotonin (5-HT) release in the ventral hippocampus and show heightened anxiety-like behaviors. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that reducing 5-HT levels in the ventral hippocampus is a causal mechanism in increasing anxiety-like behaviors during amphetamine withdrawal. First, we tested whether reducing 5-HT levels in the ventral hippocampus directly increases anxiety behavior. Male rats were bilaterally infused with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) into the ventral hippocampus, which produced a 83% decrease in ventral hippocampus 5-HT content, and were tested on the elevated plus maze (EPM) for anxiety-like behavior. Reducing ventral hippocampus 5-HT levels decreased the time spent in the open arms of the maze, suggesting that diminished ventral hippocampus 5-HT levels increases anxiety-like behavior. Next, we tested whether increasing 5-HT levels in the ventral hippocampus reverses anxiety behavior exhibited by rats undergoing amphetamine withdrawal. Rats were treated daily with either amphetamine (2.5-mg/kg, i.p.) or saline for 2weeks, and at 2weeks withdrawal, were infused with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine (0.5μM) bilaterally into the ventral hippocampus and tested for anxiety-like behavior on the EPM. Rats pre-treated with amphetamine exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior on the EPM. This effect was reversed by ventral hippocampus infusion of paroxetine. Our results suggest that 5-HT levels in the ventral hippocampus are critical for regulating anxiety behavior. Increasing 5-HT levels during withdrawal may be an effective strategy for reducing anxiety-induced drug relapse.

Synergistic regulation of glutamatergic transmission by serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors in prefrontal cortical neurons

The monoamine system in the prefrontal cortex has been implicated in various mental disorders and has been the major target of anxiolytics and antidepressants. Clinical studies show that serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) produce better therapeutic effects than single selective reuptake inhibitors, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we found that low dose SNRIs, by acting on 5-HT(1A) and α2-adrenergic receptors, synergistically reduced AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents and AMPAR surface expression in prefrontal cortex pyramidal neurons via a mechanism involving Rab5/dynamin-mediated endocytosis of AMPARs. The synergistic effect of SNRIs on AMPARs was blocked by inhibition of activator of G protein signaling 3, a G protein modulator that prevents reassociation of G(i) protein α subunit and prolongs the βγ-mediated signaling pathway. Moreover, the depression of AMPAR-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents by SNRIs required p38 kinase activity, which was increased by 5-HT(1A) and α2-adrenergic receptor co-activation in an activator of G protein signaling 3-dependent manner. These results have revealed a potential mechanism for the synergy between the serotonin and norepinephrine systems in the regulation of glutamatergic transmission in cortical neurons.